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Bligh
05-30-2015, 13:36
14514


The Battle for supremacy of the straits had been bloody and long, but at dusk the British Fleet had at last prevailed and driven off the French with a bloody nose. The Windward Islands were safe in British hands for a little longer.
Rear Admiral Jackson shifted his Flag to the Ramillies it being the most seaworthy First Rate still afloat and with the exception of his late Flagship now a dismasted hulk the Fleet limped back towards Jamaica.
Having been recently promoted Captain for his part in the capture of the fortifications of the Saint Roque Island, young James Roberts manoeuvred his Frigate Amelia gingerly between the shoals to Port and the Hibernia to Starboard.


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The three Decker with all but its mizzen shot away could hardly maintain steerageway let alone manoeuvre. With no bowsprit and spritsails any attempt to get underway would cause her to broach.


14517


At the first attempt to pass a hawser this had in fact happened with the resultant parting of the tow. As the remains of the overstretched rope snaked across Amelia's foredeck two hands had been caught and nearly cut in two by the vicious whipping of the hawser.
Not wanting another parting of the ways, the next attempt was altogether more careful, with the Masters mate having been transferred to the Hibernia to oversee things from that quarter.

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With the Hawser finally secure, James passed the order to Jack Straw his First to get the two ships underway. flags had just made to Hibernia, when a call was heard from the Main tops.
"Sail ho! Fine on the Starboard bow."
Jack swung his telescope in the direction indicated, but could not make out anything above the horizon as yet.
"What do you make of her Maxwell" he thundered up to the lookout in the tops.
"Looks like a Frenchie Capn. I'd guess a 74. Heading to cut across our bows about four miles."


14519


"I'm obliged Maxwell." James replied."Beat to Quarters if you please Lieutenant."
"Port your Helm, and run out the guns."
In minutes the orders had been carried out and the Amelia with Hibernia in tow headed directly toward the off shore shoals, much to the consternation of Capitane Andre Du Bois of the Aqulion who was now forced to turn sharply to starboard to avoid coming under the guns of the British First Rate.


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As it was he was caught by a broadside from Amelia as her guns came to bear.
Balls wined across his deck and swept ratings from their positions.
The upper deck guns also flayed his sails unmercifully.


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As he came about Du Bois gave the order to return fire and it was the Amelia's turn to suffer.
The heavier fall of the Frenchman's shot damaged the wheel, holed the ship and started a small fire in the hammock nettings.

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Parties were immediately dispatched to deal with the situation, and the Amelia continued her turn to run parallel to the shoals and force the French ship to follow suit.


Ordering the helm over five degrees to starboard and allowing the drag of the Hibernia to swing her still further, Amelia now crossed the 74's wake and gained the weather gauge firing her forrard guns as she did so.


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Caught off balance, by the move Du Bois returned what fire he could, but lost far more crew members than the Amelia in this exchange.
James continued with the Amelia's swing to Starboard, and with the Aqulion now trapped between the shoals and the British ships, both raked her stern. The heavy Carronades of the Hibernia pulverising her tween decks and cutting down her crew in swathes.


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All three ships now continued on a parallel course for several minutes, but James realised that in order to avoid the Galigo headland, Du Bois must come about, forestalled him and was ready with another broadside when he did so.

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14526

Du Bois was forced to endure another broadside from both ships,and as expected his return fire was slackening, although it did further render Amelia's steering damaged, and James was forced to order the auxiliary steering into action with a couple of seamen to relay his orders to the lower gundeck.


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Severely wounded, the Aquilon now broke off the action, after taking a parting broadside from the British ships which fell short.

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Until he had the auxilliary steering functioning James could do nothing about giving chase, and by this time it was too late to catch the 74 with his consort in tow.


14528

Damage report.

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14532

Rob.

Nightmoss
05-30-2015, 13:56
Very enjoyable AAR Rob! Amazing to see how close you came to taking the Aquilon! :salute: :thumbsup:

Bos'n
05-30-2015, 15:49
Very nice, Rob. Do you have any other information about this scenario. I would, like to use it.

Thanks,

Bob

Nightmoss
05-30-2015, 16:26
Very nice, Rob. Do you have any other information about this scenario. I would, like to use it.

Thanks,

Bob

Bob, it's one of the solo scenarios we've been playing this year. This is the one for March. Linked here: http://sailsofglory.org/showthread.php?3119-March-s-Solo-Mission-Duty-and-Daring

Scenario description is in post #10.

Bligh
05-31-2015, 02:12
Very enjoyable AAR Rob! Amazing to see how close you came to taking the Aquilon! :salute: :thumbsup:

I was astounded how it played out myself.
From the point where I read the brief I knew that if I could reach the shoals I could prevent the Aquilon raking me. A sort of opposite of Nelson at the Nile trick. That would be the only chance of bringing the guns of my First Rate to bear. With this in mind I thought we might make it off the board with some points left.
When the Aquilon crossed my bows rather than take the broadside, I saw the chance to get the wind by crossing aft of him before he turned to rake me. This proved to be the turning point of the action. After that he was at a disadvantage as we had all the sea room. Just sorry my steering problem took me out of range. One more broadside would have done it.
Young James Stuart will sail on.
Rob.

Comte de Brueys
05-31-2015, 02:30
Nice AAR, Rob.

I think HMS Amelia used her secret 750 horse power engine to pull away the 1st rate wit that speed.

So it was a calamity for du Bois to hit this stable (former French) Hebé frigate with the floating batterie towed behind. :wink:



Good fight. :thumbsup:

Popsical
05-31-2015, 03:19
Great AAR Rob :clap:
Those Frenchies sure took a good kicking.

Bligh
05-31-2015, 03:23
Nice AAR, Rob.

I think HMS Amelia used her secret 750 horse power engine to pull away the 1st rate wit that speed.

So it was a calamity for du Bois to hit this stable (former French) Hebé frigate with the floating batterie towed behind. :wink:



Good fight. :thumbsup:

She actually used the slowest rate on the card for the towing Sven. The wind gauge did not help at all really. I did leave out some of the more boring pictures where both ships were maneuvering for position or reloading guns etc. That might be why she seems to be getting a lick on.
Rob.

Bligh
05-31-2015, 03:26
Great AAR Rob :clap:
Those Frenchies sure took a good kicking.

Not enough of a kicking I'm afraid Steve. if only we had not steered away when we did.
Still, we got off and that was the main thing.
Rob.

Naharaht
05-31-2015, 07:33
That looks like a very good scenario. Thank you for the AAR. :clap:

Union Jack
06-01-2015, 10:14
Brilliantly done Sir, brilliantly done. The admiral will be leased his flagship is safe and in good hands. Promotion in the offing there methinks.

Well worthy of REP too for the master could be a sea shanty in the offing there too I wouldn't wonder. Now where's me penny whistle?

Neil

Bligh
06-01-2015, 13:30
Well the Master certainly got thing all ship shape and Bristol fashion on the Hib Neil.
Unfortunately Young James having just been promoted Captain will have to wait some time to be made Post.
However, it should at least ensure that The Admiralty grant him some interesting missions in the Amelia.
Rob.

Union Jack
08-02-2015, 01:08
I'm sure James will be in the thick of it again soon.

Bligh
08-02-2015, 03:27
I'm sure James will be in the thick of it again soon.

You may spot him very briefly in today's offering when I post it.:happy:
Rob.